Laundry marker detacher



April A. F. HANNEY LAUNDRY MARKER DETACHER Filed Feb. 24, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l nvr azvro/e A 170! f 69/7/27 By W ig April 26, 1932- A. F. HANNEY LAUNDRY MARKER DETACHER Filed Feb. 24, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED; STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

ANGUS r. HANNEY, or nonwoon 'oHIo; ASSIGNQB "11o zrnnwmnnrom LAUNDRY -MACHINERY COMPANY, or NORWOOD, omen oonroimrronor 01110 v nnunnnr MAR-K R. pn'rnonnn- Application' filed February 24, 1930.. Serial No. 431,002. I

My invention relates to apparatus for detaching metal identification clips from laundry goods. .It is particularly applicable for use in detaching such clips'after the goods have been laundered and are being prepared for delivery to the customer.- However, the apparatus may be used for detaching marking clips at any time.

, Heretofore, specially constructed pliers or tools have been used to remove the metal identification clips from laundered goods, the marking clip used being made of spring sheet metal bent into a U-shape-and having its free ends normally closed by the inherent resili- 1'5 ency of the clip and contacting with each. other between which a portion. of the piece of goods is held. Such method of removing theclips is slow and tedious work and does.

7 g A not provide a means for automatically checking the goods in'a bundle or act as a check on the operators error. Further,'such-method does not require that the marking clip be on its proper key bar before removalfrom the M goods and does not provide any means for preventingthe operator from removing an improper clip at any time. That is, it does not prevent'the operator from removing a clip from a piece of goods that belongs to another bundle 1 q One object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for separating the free ends of the markingclips and maintaining the ends in such position so asto permit goods to be M removed from between such ends.

videa -means for-limiting the distance to which the free ends of the marking clip are separated. "1 I Still another object of my invention isto provide a means for locking the apparatus against operation until the marking clips are in their proper position in the machine and to provide m eans for. locking the machine against improper'operation on the clips or operation on improper clips.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device which is easily operated and does not require that the operator be skilled in-the art of removing clips from laundered goods.

members 5 and 6 for the goods being oper- Another object of my invention is to Various other objects and advantageous features of my invention may be seen in the.

following detailed'descriptio'n andone embodiment thereof maybe seen in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein: a y Fig. 1 is an elevation of theleft hand side of a device constructed in accordance with my I invention. l

Fig. 2 is also an elevation showing operating parts seen from the right hand side of my machine, parts of the; machine being broken'away. I I I Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View showing the means for operating the device.

Figs. 5,6, and 7 are sectlonal views showing theparts for operating upon the mark- 7 ing clips in various positions. Q

Fig. 8' is a view showing the capability of movement of the jawblock with relation to the floating bar.

With reference to the drawings, the sup. port for the devicecomprises a base made up of radially extending legs and feet 1 equipped with roller elements 2 and a central hub 3 having a'vertical'borefto receive a tubular. post or upright member 4 carrying two shelf ated upon.* The shelf member 5 is equipped with a rack 7 in which a-supply of empty clip key bars may be stored prior to use in the machine.

One-' ofTthe leg's of the base portion embodies a'bracket 8 having a vertical bore for; the reception of a tubular post?) which su ports substantially all of the working mec anism with the exception of afoot lever. 10. that is pivotally 'connected as at 1-1 to suit? able depending lugs 12 on one of the leg mem bersl. The lever 10 is pivotallyconnected intermediateits endsasat 18 to a lever l3extending at right angles to the lever 10 and having its short-arm pivotally connectedas at'14 to depending ears 15 in one of the leg members 1 and its longer arm pivotally connected as at 16 to the lower end of a link 17 whoseupper' end is pivotally connected as 91525 to-the low-:- 106 er end of a vertically movable cam plate 26,

the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. Such link 17 iswalso connected to a spring 27 connected at its opposite end to a bracket 28 on the tubular post 9. With this construction, the foot lever moves downwardly against the resistance of the spring 27 and is moved upwardly by the action of such spring.

' The cam plate'26is mounted guide-ways 27 in the upper portion of the apparatus which is preferably made separately from the tubular'upright member 9 for purposesofmanufacture and attached thereto by any well known means and a suitableretai'ner plate 29 holds the cam plate withinsuch guides. Such cam plate 26 is moved downwardly by the foot lever 10 and upwardly by the action of the spring. 27 and embodies a.

cam slot 30 for'operating one part of-the device and a cam slot 31 foroperating another partthereof. j

One of these parts consists of a clamping member 40 thatis adapted to engage the.

bent rounded end on each marking clip and is stationary as respects vertical movement. The other part consists of an upper j aw member34 that is capable'of being moved horizontally, vertically, and angularly, in the same vertical plane. V

The clamping member 40 is rlgldly secured to the upper side of a sliding member 35that is reciprocable horizontally in suitable guideways by the vertical reciprocation of the camplate 26. Such reciprocation of the member 35 is the result of movement of a roller 36 secured to the member 35 along the length of the cam slot 30 when the cam plate 26 is moved upwardly or downwardly. A lower jaw member 32 is rigidly secured to the up per part of the machine frame and is adapted to engage the lower jaw socket 33.

Immediately in front of the jaw member is astop device 37 pivotally mounted on a pin 39 and having its lower bifurcatedend V engaging a horizontallydisposed pin 38 in the forwardmost end, of the'member 35, and being so disposed that its upper end will be in'a horizontal plane coinciding to the plane of the jaw member 32 when in operativeposition, and will be below such plane when in inoperative position The stop; member is" moved to operativepositionwherein it engages and moves the clip onto the jaw member 32 by the forwardmovement of the member 35-resultingfrom the actionof the cam slot 30 on the roller 36 when the cam plate 26 is moved downwardly.

The upwardlyextendingclamping mem ber 40 isdisposed-on the member 35a short distance tothe rear of jaw member 32 and in a-plane above such jaw-member. Vihen in idle position, the spacing of the extension 40 from the jaw member 32 and the spacing of the stop 3 from the jaw 32 is such that when a marking clip is placed in position with the jaw member 32 extending into the jaw socket 33 on the clip, the extension 40 is not quite in contact with the bent rounded end of the clip and the top end of the stop 37 is slightly below and in front of the protruding portion ofthejaw. socket on the clip. This'is clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7 ofthe drawings.

However, when the member 35 is moved forward by downward movement ofthe cam. plate 26, the ext'en'sion40 will move forwardly to and engage the rounded end of the markcontour as to prevent the marking clip from slipping upwardly and out ofcontact with the extension while the end of the clip opposite its-rounded end is prevented from moving upwardly by the jaw member 32 disposed within the lower jaw socket 33 of the marking clip.

The upper jaw member 34 is secured to the forward end of a jaw block 41 pivotally mounted at the front end of a floating bar 42 that is pivotally connected at its rearwardmost end as at 43 to one free end of a bell crank lever 44 and pivotally connected at its forwardmost end by means of a pin 45 to the ends of links 46. The links46 are, in turn, pivotally mounted, as at 47, to a bearing block '48 that is rigidly mounted on the top portion ofthe apparatus andin a plane above the sliding member 35. 7 As shown, the pin 45, by means of which the links 46 are con nected to the floating bar 42 extends through the links 46, the forward forked end of the floating bar 42, and the jaw block 41 to serve as a pivotal mounting for the jaw block.

' The jaw block41 is yieldably held as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, against the front end of the floating bar '42 which acts as a stop therefor by the coiled contracting spring 49. With this construction, the jaw block 41 will'be positively moved clockwise about its pivot by the clockwise movement of thefloating bar 42 but will be'yieldably moved counter-clockwise by a counterclockwise movement of the floating-bar to permit the upper jaw member 34 to yield by pivoting about the pin 45 in,

the event that the clip,with which it is supposed to engage, is improperly placed in position when the operator depresses the foot lever '10. I Thus, a means is provided for preventing breakage of parts.

' The bell'crank lever 44 is .pivotally mounted i as at 50 to a bracket 51 rigidly mounted onan lever is provided with an anti-friction roller 52 so disposed as to extend into the'cam slot- 31 in thecam plate 26' whereby vertical movement of the eam 'plate 26 by the mechanism hereinbefore described will cause movement of the floating bar 42 through themedium'of the link connections just described. That is, the upper jaw member 34k will be moved from its normal position first downwardly, then.

forwardly, and then upwardly, when thecam plate 26 is moved downwardly, the reverse taken place when the-cam plate 26 is moved upwardly. The jaw member 34: will be moved into the upper jaw socket 53 of the marking clip at the same time that the clipis being moved into position relative to the sliding member 35 and the subsequent movement of the clamping member will spread the free ends of the clip,:as'shown in Fig. 6.

To furnish a guide underneath which the clip to be detachedmust be movedand to prevent the marking clip from having its free ends moved too far apart, a guard 5 lis adjustably secured on the upper surface of the floating bar 42, as shown in Figs. 5,6 and 7, and is of such shape and so positioned that its forwardmost end will bear against the upper free end of the marking clip when :the machine is in an operated position. a

In the laundry checking system using the marking clip adapted to be detached from the goods by this apparatus, it is advantageous that means be provided for preventing operation of the device unless the marking clip is one of a given set. To accomplish this feature, the key bar on whicha given set of 40- marking clips may be disposed takes a definite part in the operation of this device. That is, the machine is provided with mechanism which will lock it against operation unless the marking clip to be removed is adapted to fit upon a particular key bar being used.

' A pivoted angular locking bar is pr'ovided and is so mounted that its free end is normally positioned under the lower en'd'of the cam plate 26 to prevent downward movement of saidplate. As shown in Fig. 2, the locking bar 55 is pivoted as at 56 to'a bracket 57 rigidly secured on the tubular post 9. A

short distance from the pivot 56 of the locking bar a link 58 is pivotally connected thereto which extends downwardly and is pivotally connected as at 59, see Figs. 1 and 4;,to the free end of an arm 60 rigidly secured on a rock shaft 61 mounted in asuitable bearing formed in a spanner 62 clamped around the tubular post 9 but, not adjustable along the length of the post.'-j

Vvhen the rock shaft 61 is moved counterclockwise, Fig. 1, the free end of the arm 60 and the link 58 will be moved downwardly whereby theiree end of the locking bar 55' will move to the right in an arcuate. path about its pivot point 56and the end of such bar, which is normally disposed under the cam plate 26, will be moved outwardly to such position that the cam plate may be moved downwardlyqln a like'manner, when the rock shaft 61 ismoved clockwise, the locking bar will be moved to its normal position underthelower end of the cam plate '26 and downward movement ofthe cam plate 26 will beprevented, as will downward movementofthe foot lever 10.

In order toprevent any pressure applied 1 to the footlever 10 from bein' transmitted to t-ll'plVOt 56 when the locking bar is 111 normal. locked'positlon, such locking bar ispro-f vided witha bearing surface 63 that is oppositely disposed from the'sur'face contacted with'by the lower edge ofthe cam plate 26 when such cam plate is moved downwardly. Thebearing surface 63- is adapted to rest ona lag 6i that forms an integral part of the bracket 57.. =1

A socket 65 is made rigid with rock shaft 61 and arm 60, and a key bar 66 is adapted to fit within suchsocket to act as a lever for. moving the rock shaft 61 in either direction. Spring 66 normally holds the parts in the position shown in Fig. l with the upperend of the key bar 66 disposed a-short distance to the front of the upper and lower jaw members'3 l' and 32 whereby the'operator may conveniently slide the cooperating part of a marking 'clip'secured to the pieceofgoods onto the upper. end of such key bar and'the goods may be moved downwardly and rearwardly together with the marking clip until the goods restupon the top surface of the de vice so that the marking clip is in alignment. with the cooperating jaw members andits lower jaw socket 338 is moved onto its 32. A slot 67, see Fig. 3, is provided intlie upper horizontal part ofthe device so thatthe marking clip maybe moved into its prop er position with relationto the jaw 'mem-. bers and the open end of such slot is preferably made fiaringso as-t'o. make it easierto insert the upper end'of the keybar into such slot; a

Since the key bar serves as a lever for mov 1 .1 l 1 10" V t, 1 l 4 mg L ie soc lin ..r on in oor out o suc 1 p0 sition that it will prevent downward movement of the cam plate 26 and consequently prevent the operation of the device, it Wlll' be seen that thedevice can not beoperated until the-upper end of the key bar 66 is moved within the slot 67. Further, since the mark ing clipis to be'disposed on the key bar prior tothe key bar being moved within the slot i 67 it will be readily seen that a positive means has been provided for locking the device against' operation unless the marking Cllp on the piecefof goods held by the operatorb will fit upon the particular key bar 66'wl1ich rests within the socket 65.

In the operation of, the device, assuming that the marking clip is adapted to fit upon the particular key bar resting in thefsocket 65, the marking clip is first placed upon the key bar with the goods still attached thereto and the key bar moved within the slot 67. Thus the locking bar 55 is moved to such po sition that it will not prevent operation of the device. Then, the foot lever 10 is moved downwardly and the .cam plate 26 move-l in the same direction resultinglin the forward movement of the sliding member to clamp v the clipas above described and the downward and forward movement of the forward end of the floating bar 42 to move the upper jaw member 34 into cooperative relation with its jaw socket 53 of the marking clip.

Continued downward movement of the cam plate 26 serves to move the forward end of the jaw block 41 and the jaw 34 upwardly to spread the free ends of the marking'clip, as shown in Fig.6, whereupon the goods will be removed from the clip. Then, release of the foot lever 10 from the force exerted thereon will permit upward movement of the cam plate 26 through the action of the spring 27 and the reverse movement of the various parts. Thus, the jaw member 34 will be moved down to close the clip and then out of its jaw socket 53 of the marking clip and the key bar 66 will be moved clockwise, see Fig. 1, out of the slot 67by spring 66 to again position the locking bar in its normal position under the lower end of the cam plate 26.

o On removal of a piece of goods from the clip and the return of the key bar to normal position such clip will gravitate down the key bar adjacent the lowermost end thereof or against the uppermost clip thereon.

It will be readily understood that it is absolutely necessary that the marking clip be placed in position in the machine with its lower jaw socket 33 disposed over the lower jaw 32 and with the clip wedged between the stop member 37 and the upstanding member.

40 in order that the'machine may function properly with regard tothe clip. To insure such placing of this clip, a stop is provided which takes the form of a forwardly extending'arm 68 made integral with one of the links 416, having a laterally extending portion 69 on its extreme outer end in the manner shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7, and is ofsuch nature that when the links 46 move in a'counter-clockwise direction Figs. 2, 5, 6'

and 7, the outwardly extending arm 68' will likewise move in the's'ame direction. The length of the arm 68 is such that, ifthe key bar 66 is not 'di sposed in proper position with} in the slot 67 which is provided therefor, the laterally extending portion 69 will strike the upper end of the key bar and prevent further 7 operation of the device. However, when the okey bar 66 is properly disposed within the slot 67 the laterally extending portion 69 of the arm 68 will pass to the front of the key bar-66 and the arm 68 moves downwardly with the free ends of links 46. Thus, it will be seen that, I have provided a means for looking the machine against operation until the marking clipis in its proper position therein.

. An adjustable stop 70 is provided on the bracket 57 in such position as to be in the path of the lower end of the cam plate 26 and serves to limit the downward movement of the cam plate when the 'foot lever 10 is depressed and is made adjustable so that .the downward movement of the cam plate may be varied as to distance and the degree of upward movement of the upper jaw 34 can be adj ustedto separate the free ends of the clip as desired. Further, an adjustable stop 71 is provided on one of the radially-extending legs 1 to limit the upward ymovement of the foot lever 10 and therebyv limit the degree of upward movement of the cam plate 26 and thedistance to which the guard 54 and the upper jaw 34: is raised in its normal position. A sheet metal shield 72 indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3, is preferably provided to, guard against an unscrupulous person manipulating the locking bar 55 in the absence of a key bar 66.

. Referring to the drawings and the preceding description it will be seen that I have provided a device embodying numerous novel and advantageous features. For instance, I have provided a mechanism'for separating the normally contacting ends of a marking clip so that the goods may be removed from between such free ends and have provided a stop for normally preventing operation of this device. In this device, thestop is effective unless the marking clip to be removed belongs to a predeterminedgroup and unless the marking clip is in the proper position relative to the mechanism for removing it. Another advantageous feature resides in the fact that means have been provided for adjusting the mechanism to spread the normally contacting free ends of a clip to any desired extent and for preventing breakage of parts of the mechanism should the marking. clip be defective or should any foreign article find its way into the mechanism.

What I; cla m is:

1. Apparatus for separating the free ends of a'clip which includes adjacent legs, comprising a support, a jaw adapted to engage one of the legs of said clip, a jaw adapted to engage the otherleg of said clip, mechanism carried by said support for moving said jaw membersjinto engagement with the legs of said clip and then moving one of said jaw members relative to the other to separate the free ends thereof, and locking means for normally preventing operation of said mechanism.

2. Apparatus forseparatin'g the free ends of av clip which includes adjacent legs, com- III prising a support, a jaw adapted to engage one of the legs of said clip, a jaw adapted to engage the other leg of said clip, mechanism carried by said support for moving said jaw members into engagement with the legs of said clip, clamping said clip in place, and then moving one of said jaw members relative to the other to separate the free ends thereof, and locking means for normally preventing operation of said mechanism.

3. Apparatus for separating the free ends of a clip which includes adjacent legs, comprising a support, a jaw adapted to engage one of the legs of sa d clip, a jaw ad apted'to engage the other leg of saidclip, mechanism carried by said support for moving said jaw members into engagement with the legs of said clip and then moving one of said jaw members relative to the other to separate the free ends thereof, and locking means for normally preventing operation of said mechanism, said last named means embodying a lock movable to inefi'ective position by proper positioning of a marking clip in said apparatus. I

4. Apparatus for separating the free ends of a clip which includes adjacent legs, com prising a support, a jaw adapted to engage one of the legs of said clip, a jaw adapted to engage the other leg of said clip, mechanism carried by said support for moving said aw members into engagement with the legs of said clip and then moving one of said jaw members relative to the other to separate the free ends thereof, locking means for normally preventing operation of said mechanism, said last named means embodying a lock movable to ineifective position by proper positioning of a marking clip in said apparatus, and a clip key bar in association with said apparatus and adapted to render said looking means ineffective when a marking clip is placed thereon and moved to proper position within said apparatus.

5. Apparatus for separating the free ends of a clip which includes adjacent legs, comprising a support, a jaw adapted to engage one of the legs of said clip, a jaw adapted to engage the other leg of said clip, mechanism carried by said support for moving said jaw members into engagement with the legs of said clip and then moving one of said jaw members relative to the other to separate the free ends thereof, locking means for normally preventing operation of said mechanism, said last named means embodying a lock movable to ineffective position by proper positioning of a marking clip in said apparatus, and a clip key bar in association with said apparatus and adapted to render said locking means ineffective when a marking clip is placed thereon and moved to proper posi tion within said apparatus, and a stop for preventing effective operation of said mechanism until saidkey bar andclip disposed carried by said support for moving'said jawmembersflinto engagement with the legs of I said clip and then moving onerof said aw members relative to the other toseparatei the free ends thereof, locking means for normally preventing-operation of said mechanism, and means for automaticallyreturning said mechanism to its normalunoperated position after operation thereof.

' 7. Apparatus for separating the free ends of a clip which includes adjacent legs, comprising a support, a jaw adapted to engage one ofthe legs of said clip, a jaw adapted to engage the other leg of said clip, means for holding one of said jaws stationary, mechanism effective to move said other jaw through, an arcuate path to separate the free ends of said clip, and locking means for normally preventing operation of said mechanism.

8. Apparatus for separating thefreeends of a clip which includes adjacent legs, com-. prising a support, a jaw adapted to engage one of the legsof said clip, a jaw adapted to engage the other leg of said clip, means for holding one of said jaws stationary, mechanism effective to move the other of said jaws downwardly, forwardly and then upwardly to separate the free ends of said clip, and locking means for normally preventing operation of said mechanism. l

9. Apparatus for separating the free ends of a clip which includes adjacent legs,vcomprising a support, a j aw adapted to engage one of the legs of said clip, a jaw adapted to engage the other leg of said clip, a cam 7 element movable to effect engagement of one of said jaw members with one leg of said clip and then relative to the other jaw member to separate such free ends, means for moving said cam element in one direction, and locking means for normally preventing operation of said cam element.

10. Apparatus for separating the free ends of a clip which includes adjacent legs, comprising a support, a jaw adapted to engage one of the legs of said clip, a jaw adapted to engage the other leg of said clip, a cam element movable to efi'ect engagement of one 1 of said jaw members with one leg of said clip and then relative to the other jaw member to separate such free ends, means for -moving said cam element in one direction,

prising a" support, a jaw adapted to: engage one of the Iegs of said clip, a jaw adapted to engage the other leg of said clip, mechanism carried by saidsupport for moving one ofj said .jaw members: into engagement with one leg of said clip and then relative to the other ]aW memberto separate the free ends of said c1 ip means for adjusting the mechanism to effect spreading of the free ends of a clip to a greater or less degree, and look- 'ing means for normally preventing operation of said mechanism.

In testimony whereof I hereby aifix my signature. g 1 3 ANGUS F. HANNEY. 

